Project 01 of 04

Pulse Jet Design Team

I founded and lead an 8-member team that built a propane-fueled pulse jet from cold-rolled steel, with a test bench that records thrust, temperature and fuel efficiency.

Role: Founder and President
Dates: May 2025 – Present
Location: Blacksburg, VA

Peak static thrustAbout 45 lbf: ~200 N
Team members: 8
Bench metricsThrust, temperature, fuel efficiency: 3

Build sequence

From the SolidWorks model to the finished test assembly. A test run video will replace this clip.

SolidWorks render of the pulse jet engine on its frame, connected to a propane tank by a fuel line — Design
The goal was a backyard pulse jet built to produce real, testable metrics. The engine and its rolling test frame were designed in SolidWorks, with propane as the fuel.

Fabricated steel pulse jet standing upright on an outdoor work table next to an angle grinder — Fabrication
The engine is built from cold-rolled steel by the 8-member team I founded in May 2025 and lead as president.

Steel pulse jet mounted on a wheeled frame on a wooden work table, with a propane tank on the shelf below, a braided fuel line, and a red digital scale tied to the frame — Testing
The bench records thrust, temperature and fuel efficiency; thrust is read from a tension scale. We live-tested multiple fuel injector versions, and each result shaped the next one. Peak static thrust: about 200 N (45 lbf).

Material: Cold-rolled steel
Fuel: Propane
CAD: SolidWorks
Thrust gauge: Tension scale

Build sequence

Design

Fabrication

Testing